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TIL New Zealand have their own Alps!
by quibono 2y ago
TIL New Zealand have their own Alps!
- stonemetal12 2y agoTechnically "Alps" is the plural of "alp", which means a very high mountain.
- wongarsu 2y agoHowever "alp" comes from Latin "Alpes", which is the mountain range in Western Europe we now call the Alps. The word has become genericized to a degree. One the other hand Alps used to be one very specific mountain range, and alp a mountain in that mountain range, so surprise at some other place calling their mountain range Alps is understandable.
- fsckboy 2y ago>surprise at some other place calling their mountain range Alps is understandable yes, if you come from Wellington in Suffolk and you fly to Wellington in NZ, and then encounter that the nearby mountains are called Alps, you would be shocked, shocked
- munificent 2y agoThe North Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest are also sometimes called the "American Alps". (Personally, I think it's a silly name. The Cascades are majestic enough in their own right and need no comparison to any other mountains.)
- pimlottc 2y agoAustralia, too: The Victorian Alps [0] 0: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_Alps https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_Alps